One need only look at the spike in sales when the state offers its August tax holiday weekend to know that paying less in taxes is pretty popular. Consumers will part with scads of money for products they may marginally need because they avoid government tithing.

That’s the clear attraction of Question 3, which seeks to reduce the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. It’s also a revolt against government stretching our means because it can’t live within its own.

Massachusetts increased the longstanding 5 percent sales tax in 2009 to 6.25 percent, a 25 percent increase. Even so, the state budget needed to be reduced. While some of that is a function of trimming fat for prior years’ excesses, it’s also a function of an economic downturn and financial collapse most of us have never experienced.

It’s to be expected that teachers’ unions, healthcare workers and government employees oppose the question. It’s less expected that many Republican candidates for office also oppose the question.

Most are quick to point out that the sales tax should be reduced, but not to 3 percent. A return to 5 percent is generally agreed to be a reasonable expectation.

Already, the state is looking at a $2.5 billion structural deficit for 2012. Question 3 would double that. Cuts are coming, decisions will be made and government will get smaller without the reduction.